Object and subject pronouns, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns — Explanation

Learn how to use English possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns, and subject and object pronouns. There are explanations of A2 grammar and interactive exercises.

Object and subject pronouns, possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to show who is doing the action of the verb in a sentence.

Forms:

• I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Examples:

• I like chocolate.
• She is reading a book.
• They play football every weekend.

Tip: Always use subject pronouns before the verb.

Object Pronouns

When you use an object pronoun, it means that the action is done to it.

Forms:

• me, you, him, her, it, us, them

Examples:

• The teacher called me.
• I saw her yesterday.
• Can you help us with the homework?

Comparison with subject pronouns:

• Subject: She likes apples. (She → does the action)
• Object: I like her. (Her → receives the action)

Possessive Adjectives

Before nouns, possessive adjectives show who owns something. They respond to the inquiry "Whose?"

Forms:

• my, your, his, her, its, our, their

Examples:

• This is my book.
• Is that your bag?
• Their house is very big.

Tip: Possessive adjectives always change a noun; they can't be used by themselves.

• Incorrect: “This is mine book.”
• Correct: “This is my book.”

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns also show ownership but replace the noun.

Forms:

• mine, yours, his, hers, its*, ours, theirs

Examples:

• This book is mine.
• The bag on the table is hers.
• These toys are ours.

Tip: Unlike possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns stand alone and do not need a following noun.

Quick Comparison Table

Type	Use	Examples
Subject Pronouns	Do the action	I play, He reads, They run
Object Pronouns	Receive the action	Give me the pen, I saw her
Possessive Adjectives	Modify noun	My book, Her car, Our house
Possessive Pronouns	Replace noun	This is mine, That bag is hers

Common Mistakes

1. Mixing subject and object pronouns
   • Her likes pizza. → Incorrect
   • She likes pizza. → Correct
2. Using possessive adjectives as pronouns
   • This book is my. → Incorrect
   • This book is mine. → Correct
3. Confusing “its” and “it’s”
   • its = possessive adjective → The cat licked its paw.
   • it’s = it is → It’s raining outside.

Examples in Sentences

• Subject pronoun: He runs every morning.
• Object pronoun: I called him yesterday.
• Possessive adjective: That is her phone.
• Possessive pronoun: That phone is hers.

Practice Tips

• Make little flashcards with a pronoun on the front and a type and example on the back.
• To practice, switch out nouns for pronouns in sentences.
• Use each type of word (subject, object, possessive adjective, possessive pronoun) to make sentences.
• To find mistakes, compare your sentences to correct examples.